(Author's Note: Hey everyone! Here is chapter 21! I know I'm probably not going in order of how things happened in the game but who cares…right? Anyway…here ya go!)
Disclaimer: FF7 and Squaresoft are not mine. Dete and the new character are…Rueh belongs to Rueh…
Chapter 21
"Tell me again…just why did they have to come with us?" Cloud asked with a hand hiding half of his face and a dull look. Aeris and Tifa sat on either side of him laughing silently. Dete stood between Vincent and Red with her arms crossed and an annoyed look on her face. Cid was yelling at Rueh. She was laughing hysterically as he chased her. Yes he was in a bad mood.
"I told her not to touch the button but no…she wouldn't listen to me," Yuffie said. Cait Sith was laughing and cheering Rueh on. Dete took a deep breath…
"RUEH!"
Rueh stopped so fast that Cid tripped over her. "Yes Dete?" she asked innocently.
"Did you by chance touch a button?"
Rueh shook her head still looking innocent.
"You did didn't you?"
"No!"
"Yes you did," Dete sighed.
"No I didn't," Rueh grumbled.
"Chocolate?"
"YES!"
"Did you push that button?"
"…oh fine I did! Happy now?"
"Much…here's your chocolate!"
"MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" and with that Rueh ran from the bridge to find someplace to hide and eat her chocolate so no one could take it. Dete had already warned them that that was a bad idea.
"We'll be at Costa Del Sol in a few minutes," Cid said turning back to his controls.
"You mean no one was watching the controls while you were chasing Rueh?" Cloud asked.
"Yep…"
Yuffie made a face and wrapped an arm around her stomach. "I'll…be back…"
****
"Oh that's just disgusting!" Tifa mumbled.
"What is?" Cloud asked.
"Hojo on the beach," she said. Everybody shuddered and made faces like they were being sick.
"We need to talk to him…but first let's get our rooms at the inn…no wait…I want it!" Cloud said and ran towards a person standing outside a villa that was for sale.
-10 minutes later-
"Happy now?" Tifa grumbled.
Cloud nodded. "I got a villa! I got a villa!" he said happily. Aeris and Tifa rolled their eyes.
"Well. Some of us should talk to Hojo…" Red started.
"Rueh and myself will be exploring," Dete said as they walked off.
"Don't get lost!" Aeris called after them. They simply waved back without stopping.
"Well…let's get this over with," Cloud sighed.
****
She leaned back and looked up at the clear blue sky. The sun was shining down upon her face. She sighed and looked down at the water below her feet from where she sat on the dock. She gazed at her reflection then pulled the hood of her cloak over her head. There were 2 little girls nearby who were watching the water too but then they looked at her. They walked over to her.
"Why are you wearing a cloak? Isn't it too hot for that?" one asked.
"Not at all. I'm used to it," she said.
"Well I'm Rueh and this is Dete," the girl who had spoken said.
"Who are you?" Dete asked.
"I'm…Ezra," she said.
"Hmm…Ezra…that's not your name but if you don't want to tell us that's okay," Rueh said.
'How could they possibly…?' she shrugged and turned back to gazing at the water. Rueh and Dete sat down next to her.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Do you mind if we join you? We don't want to talk to Hojo like a few of our friends are," Dete said.
"Who would want to talk to him?" Ezra asked.
"Our point exactly," Rueh said.
"We were tortured enough by him. We don't want to go through any more," Dete said quietly.
"He does cause a lot of suffering doesn't he?" Ezra asked softly. Rueh and Dete nodded. "So who are your friends?" Ezra asked after a minute of silence.
"Cloud Strife and his group," Dete said.
"The group out to stop Sephiroth?"
"Yep!" Rueh said.
"Do you…do you think that I could join the fight on your side?" Ezra asked.
"We'll have to talk to Cloud but I say sure!" Dete said.
"Me too! The more the merrier!" Rueh said.
"We can talk to him later. After he's done with Hojo," Dete said.
"Thank you," Ezra said. They barely saw her smile from under the hood of her cloak.
****
"…*grumble*…stupid Hojo…*more grumbling*…" Cloud sat down with an annoyed look on his face.
"Hhheeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Cloud!"
"…yes Rueh?" Cloud said through gritted teeth.
"Aaaa…yeah…anyway we were wondering if…well this is Ezra! She asked us if she could join us. Can she?" Rueh asked.
Cloud slowly looked up and moved his hands away from his forehead. "Ezra?" he asked looking closely at the cloaked person who was standing between Rueh and Dete silently.
"I am Ezra," she said.
"Hey guys! Come in here!" Cloud called to the others. After a few minutes everyone was sitting around the room watching Rueh, Dete, and Ezra. "Ezra here wants to join up with us," Cloud said.
"Why?" Vincent asked.
Ezra shrugged. "To help save the planet…do I have to have a reason besides that?"
"No…the planet says we can trust her…I'm willing to let her come with us," Aeris said looking around at the others.
"If the planet says we can trust you I don't think we can disagree. Still I would like to see if you can fight," Cloud said. The others gave their consent.
"Very well. Who will I fight?" Ezra asked.
"Me," Cloud said.
"Where?"
"Outside."
"When?"
"Now," Cloud said standing up. Ezra nodded and followed him outside with the others behind them. Cloud stopped on the beach and drew his sword. Ezra drew out a small dagger. One in each hand.
"Begin!" Cid said.
Cloud moved first. He charged Ezra head on. She stood still till the last second. She jumped and twisted as she flipped over him. Her cloak fanned out around her but didn't reveal her. She landed silently in a kneeled position and launched herself at him while his back was still turned. He turned just in time. One of her daggers went past only inches from his face. He froze. Her second dagger pressed against his throat.
"Have I earned my right yet?" Ezra asked calmly.
"Yes you have. Welcome to Avalanche," Cloud said sheathing his sword.
****
